Thousands of abandoned animals remain in Dubai. Their owners fled from the war.

Charitable animal protection organizations have reported that thousands of pets have been abandoned in Dubai while their owners flee to safety. Local shelters report full capacities and urge pet owners not to abandon their animals in times of crisis. “We are at maximum capacity. All rooms are full. All spaces are occupied. And yet, calls keep coming in. Injured cats. Abandoned cats. Kittens left to survive on their own. There is always another life that needs help,” states Dubai Street Kitties, an organization that has been helping local cats for a long time.

“We understand that the situation is tense and that some families may be trying to return to their home countries for safety reasons. We ask you to take your pets with you. If you need contacts and information about transportation companies that can help you take your pets with you, call our office or send us a message and we will provide you with the relevant contacts,” appeals to the organization K9 Friends, which rescues abandoned dogs. With the rapidly worsening situation of abandoned animals and overcrowded shelters, the city is also trying to cope. It has introduced 12 new AI-powered feeding stations.

“Animals should not become forgotten victims when people leave the country in a crisis. Pets are entirely dependent on their owners. They do not understand why their family suddenly disappeared – therefore, we urgently ask those facing uncertainty not to forget their animals and to prepare an appropriate plan,” said Hannah Mainds, executive director of the RSPCA branch, who previously helped care for abandoned animals in Dubai, to The Guardian.

It is difficult to track specific cases of individual animals because abandoning a pet is illegal in the United Arab Emirates, and owners face imprisonment and fines of up to several thousand pounds if caught. Some dog owners accused of abandonment, therefore, explain on the internet that they only left Dubai temporarily and will return to their pets soon.

Foreigners living in the United Arab Emirates are leaving the Persian Gulf region in large numbers since the Israeli and American invasions of Iran. According to the British newspaper The Guardian, about 45,000 British citizens have left the region since March 1. Dubai is home to a large number of entrepreneurs and influencers from the countries of the global north, whose stories of escape or, on the contrary, of everything being fine in Dubai, have sparked many debates and controversies.